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Governing party wins Turkish vote Governing party wins Turkish vote
(30 minutes later)
Supporters of Turkey's governing AK Party are celebrating after the country's prime minister claimed a comprehensive general election victory.Supporters of Turkey's governing AK Party are celebrating after the country's prime minister claimed a comprehensive general election victory.
Reports said the AKP, which is rooted in political Islam, had won almost 48% of the nationwide vote. Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to work for national unity after his party won re-election with almost 50% of votes.
With 80% of votes counted, the main opposition party was holding second place, with up to 20% of votes. He told cheering crowds in Ankara that the AKP victory was a triumph for Turkish democracy.
The vote was called after disputes over a presidential candidate, and was seen as a test of Turkish secularism. Opponents had insisted that a win for the Islamist-rooted AKP could undermine Turkey's secular traditions.
Voting was compulsory and turnout was reported to be extremely high. But the BBC's Chris Morris, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, says the AKP have scored a stunning victory, and those who still believe it is a threat to the secular system are clearly in a minority.
Throughout the campaign the AK Party consistently denied opposition claims that Turkey's secularism was in danger. Unity call
"Our democracy will emerge from this election strengthened," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters as he cast his vote on Sunday morning. Speaking in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said his party would continue pursuing Turkey's ambitions of joining the European Union.
In front of cheering crowds waving Turkish flags and the blue flags of the AKP, Mr Erdogan said he would work for all Turkish people, no matter who they had voted for.
This is a battle of different classes, as well as of religion and ideas BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in fullThis is a battle of different classes, as well as of religion and ideas BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in full
Some 42 million people were eligible to vote in the poll, while 14 parties are vying for seats in the 550-member parliament. "Democracy has passed a very important test," he said, pledging to continue economic and democratic reforms.
"Whoever you have voted for... We respect your choices. We regard your differences as part of our pluralist democracy. It is our responsibility to safeguard this richness."
He also vowed to continue the fight against Kurdish rebels in the east of Turkey.
Reports said the AKP had won almost 48% of the nationwide vote after some 80% of votes were counted.
The main opposition party was holding second place, with just 20% of votes.
Sentiments highSentiments high
Supporters of the AKP streamed onto the streets as early results after the close of polling put the party on the brink of a comprehensive win. The vote was called after disputes over a presidential candidate, and was seen as a test of Turkish secularism.
News channel CNN Turk projected that the AKP would win slightly less than 47% of the final vote. Voting was compulsory and turnout was reported to be extremely high.
But that would be enough to secure the party a majority of seats in the country's 550-member parliament, the channel predicted. Some 42 million people were eligible to vote in the poll, while 14 parties vied for seats in the 550-member parliament.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, says people streamed in to vote from the early morning.
Turkish election primer Your questions answered Turkish voters' viewsTurkish election primer Your questions answered Turkish voters' views
Many people broke into applause as Turkey's military Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived to cast his vote. Poling stations were busy from early on Sunday, with supporters of the secular establishment out in force as well as AKP voters.
Many people broke into applause as Turkey's military chief of staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived to cast his vote.
The early election was called after the generals warned that Turkey's strict secular system was in danger and the army was prepared to step in to defend it.The early election was called after the generals warned that Turkey's strict secular system was in danger and the army was prepared to step in to defend it.
But now that ballot boxes have been opened, early results suggest many Turks do not see the AKP as a threat after all, our correspondent says.
Turkey's relations with the outside world, ongoing fighting with separatist Kurds and speculation of an incursion into northern Iraq were also expected to influence the vote.
Record of growthRecord of growth
The election was called in an effort to break a stalemate over a package of constitutional reforms proposed by Mr Erdogan's current government.The election was called in an effort to break a stalemate over a package of constitutional reforms proposed by Mr Erdogan's current government.
Those reforms included a proposal for the country's president to be elected directly by the people, rather than by parliament.Those reforms included a proposal for the country's president to be elected directly by the people, rather than by parliament.
They were put forward by the AK Party, whose candidate for the presidency, Abdullah Gul, was repeatedly rejected by parliament.They were put forward by the AK Party, whose candidate for the presidency, Abdullah Gul, was repeatedly rejected by parliament.
Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party.Turkey's current president and its secularist establishment have vowed to resist what they regard as the Islamist agenda of the AK Party.
Mr Erdogan's government denies the claims, saying its record in office proves the contrary.Mr Erdogan's government denies the claims, saying its record in office proves the contrary.
The government has overseen almost five straight years of economic growth and opened membership negotiations with the European Union.The government has overseen almost five straight years of economic growth and opened membership negotiations with the European Union.
Are you in Turkey? What is your reaction to the results so far? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Turkey? What is your reaction to the results so far? Send us your comments using the form below.
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